Tagged: education

New mandated evaluations are rolling out this fall for New York teachers and a local teachers union official says educators are likely nervous.

The evaluation is called the Annual Professional Performance Review or APPR.

A new incentive program through the federal government is launching in some Rochester city schools this fall, but the head of the teachers union says it isn’t about “merit pay.”

It’s called the Teacher Incentive Fund, or TIF, and it’s a grant for high needs schools to determine the effect on performance based pay.

Rochester Teacher’s Association President Adam Urbanski says the study will provide additional resources to invest in professional development for teachers.

As the city school district’s modernization project kicks off - the Superintendent says declining enrollment means some school buildings not being renovated will need to be closed.

Dr. Bolgen Vargas says the district has more space than students.

On Thursday, July 26, the Rochester City School Board is voting on the future of School 16 and its students.  The building is falling apart and in need of extensive repair and renovation.  But as WXXI’s Helene Biandudi reports, the problems may run much deeper than infrastructure.  Some teachers and parents say violence within the classroom is becoming commonplace.

“This is a typical bathroom that we have,” said School 16 Principal, Matt Laniak. “And you notice the door opens right up and there are no partitions.”

Changes are on the way for a free tutoring program for city school kids, and the head of one local tutoring company says they won’t benefit students.

The program is known as Supplemental Educational Services, or SES. It used to be federally mandated for qualified students in low performing schools, but now districts in New York can drop the program if they choose.